Conduit cap



Aug. 26, 1930. J. B COQPER 1,774,357

CONDUIT CAP Filed Dec. 14, 1928 ////////y/ /hw 10 12 g g 515.613 lllllllllllllm l? 15 T 9) 'il' 14] 3mm/W01,

Patented Aug. 26, 1930 PATENT OFFICE JACOB B. COOPER, OF PAR-K RIDGE, NEW JERSEY CONDUIT CAP Application 1ed December 14, 1928.

This invention relates to certain improvements in conduit caps; and the nature and objects of the invention will be readily recognized and understood by those skilled in the arts involved in the light of the following explanation and detailed description of the accompanying drawings illustrating what I at present believe to he the preferred embodin'ients or mechanical and electrical expres- -'t sions of my invention from among various other forms, arrangements, combinations, and constructions of which the invention is lapable within the spirit and the scope thereof.

More particularly the invention is directed to so-called conduit caps which are employed on the eXposed'ends of electrical conduits, as a terminal or junction fitting for receiving and protecting the end lengths of electric wires or cables in such conduits. As electrical conduits uscd in electrical installations are generally of varying and different stock sizes or diameters, it is necessary to carry several sizes of such conduit caps in stock so as to be prepared for the diiferentsizes of conduit used. This entails added expense and trouble, and a general object of the present invention is to provite such a conduit cap which is capable of and adapted to mounting and connection on different sizes of electrical conduit, so to do away with the necessity for carrying the several sizes of separate caps to n'leet the requirements of and fit onto such conduits.

Another object oi the invention is to provide a conduit cap of extremely simple and ellicient construction capable of quantity production at relatively small cost, which cap embodies a removable closure plate by which the cap is mounted on and attached to the end of a conduit and through which the electrical conductors :trom the conduit may be led, which cap structure and arrangement pro vides an exceedingly simple but positive fastening and attaching means for securing the plate in and to the cap and through the medium of which the closure plate can be easily and quickly released for removal from the cap and for repositioning therein where required.

Serial No. 326,079.

lith the foregoing, and certain other objects and results in view which will readily appear from the following description, the invention consists in certain novel features in construction and in combinations and arrangements of parts as will be more fully and particularly referred to and specified hereinafter.

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar reference characters refer to corresponding parts throughout the several ligurcs thereof.

Fig. l, is a vertical, longitudinal section through the closure plate of the conduit cap ot the invention.

, Fig. 2, is a plan view of the closure plate in assembled position secured on and in the. conduit cap body.

Fig. 3, is a vertical, longitudinal section taken on the line 3 3, ot` Fig. 2, and showing the conduit cap in attached position on a conduit.

Fig. 4, is a vertical, longitudinal section through a closure plate of the conduit cap, showing a modified form and arrangement of the conduit socket forming and attaching bosses.

Fig. 5, is a plan view of a closure plate of Fig. l in assembled position on a conduit cap body, but showing a modified form and arrangement of securing screws for the closure plate.

Fig. 6, is a vertical.. transverse section taken on the line 6 6, of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7, is an end elevation of the conduit cap body ot Figs. 2 and Fig. 8, a transverse vertical section through the cap body of Figs. 2 and 3, with the closure plate removed.

In accordance with the examples of the ing vention disclosed herewith, referring particularly to the form thereof of Fig. l. a conduit cap includes the elongated rounded or curved top, dome-like cap body 10 having the oppo site or lower side thereof open, and slightly longitudinally tapered or decreasing in width toward one end thereof. This cap body comprises the rounded top Wall l1 and the curved side wall l2 therearound terminating in the outwardly flared or laterally offset side wall fil portion 1l providing4 the internal shoulder or scat 15 therearound at its point of inergr with the side wall 12, within the cap body 10. fit one end thereof and along the longitudin: l center ot the cap hodj,v 107 the llared wall portion 1l is provided with a hore or opening 16 the ethrough7 while at the opposite end and centrali),v thereof the tlared vall portion 1l is prorided with an extension or ear 1T with a threaded here 1S 'lironc'li this ear and the wall portion 1l.

A closure plate 2O is provided for positioniirc within the cap bod)v 10, and closingl the open side ot the cap body, this closure plate 20 contorining; in outline and plan to the inte ior shape ot the open side ot the cap hodv as detined lilv the oti'sct side wall portion 1l. At the enlarged or wider end the closure plate 20 is i'iornietV with an enlarged recess or opening 21 theretlirmijh tor receivinte)y a suitable insulator as will he referred to hereinattcr. i1 the opposite or reduced width end. the closure plate 2O is provided with the axial-lv alined liosses and 22 ex tendine; Vtroni opposite si des thereoi. @ne olE these bosses. in this ii'istance the lios-s 252 has an internal diameter greater than that ot the other hoss 23 and is internally threaded or taped to receive, for example tl e threaded end ot a three quarter inch conduit. while the pposite boss E?) internally threaded or Vtaped to receire the end ot an electrical conduit, sai,Y ot one-halt inch diameter. tween the inner ends ot these t ro hosses and substantially in the plane ot the cover plate tl. an internal flange or shoulder Q-l provided which forms a stop tor and hears against the inner end of a conduit receired in either the hosts 22 or the l;

On the outer side ot the bosses 22 and at the reduced width lnd ot the closure plate Q0, spaced rihs `are provided lonjg'itu-ilinallv llt et the bosses, and these l osses torni it their opposite ends the ahutinents t3 adjacent the outer end ot l: iss 2:2. and the nlnitnieuts QT adjacent the outer end oli the lioss 23, on the exterior ot' the lioss rl`he reduced width cud ot the closure plate Qt? is provided with a piu Q8 extending' from the edge aud suhslantiall'v within the plane thcreot along the lonrfitinlinal center ot the plat and lietvveen the rihs At the opposite or wider eufl ot the closure plate :lll and alone` the longitudinal center thcreot depressions or recesses 2S) are toi-ined on opper: sides thereot. rcspectirely'. tor a purpf,. lie explained later.

The closure plate ll so Vfrornied and arranger mounted and tilted in and closing' the open side et tiie cap hody 10, hv tirs-t inserting; the pin c :t the reduced width end ot the plate into and through the here 1G at the reduced end r the tla'ee portion 1-l ot side wall ot the cai with the ooss 22 positioned ou the outside or exterior ot the` cap it a three quarter inch conduit is to he attached thereto, or with the hoss 223 positioned on the outside or exterior it' a one-half inch conduit is to lv atta 'hed thereto.

1n either position the ahutinents 26 or QT, as the case ma)Y he, will seat on and hear against the internal flange 15 ol the hody to position and support this end of the cover plate in the hodv lll. )t conventional porcelain insulator 3 having` the tlangfed hase Ill is inserted in the large width cud ot cap hody 10 with the hodv of the insulator received in and extended outwardlir throule'h the, recess or opening 2l in the cover plate and the tiangljed hase ill ot this insnlatm` held and secured hetween the internal shoulder 15 of the cap bod)v and the closure plate, the end ot the cover snpliorted on the insulator hase tlancje S1. )t fastening or securing screw IL is threaded into the hote ll at the enlarged end ot cap liodv 10 and extends inwardly over and across and is received in either ot the recesses Q!) which is disposed on the outer or exterior side of the plate, to thus secure and maintain the closure plate and insulator Il() in assemhled position on the cap liody.

1n mounted position the cap is secured and attached to the end ot a conduit C hy thread ing the conduit e id into that hess ot the closure plate which will lit and receive the saine and exposed on the exterior ot the plate and cap` and the ends oit electrical wires (not showt) which are hote-'et in the conduit are extended inwardlyv through the liess at the opposite or inner side oit the closure plate and then through the cap liody and outwardly through the electrical insulator BO, in the usual manner. 1n mounted position the end ot' the conduit and the electrical wires e3;- tending through the cap are etlicientl)Y protected against the wnither or undesired coutacts. The closure plate is quickly and easilv7 removed simply hy withdrawingl the Vtastening screw 8; and can he as quickly inserted and secured in proper assenihled position hy this screw. llvhen it desired to adapt the ap for either size or diameter o'l conduit it is merely necessari)Y to remove and reverse the closure plate to position the desired diameter hoss on the exterior side thereof, In this manner the necessiti Ytor fariving two sizes of conduit caps` is eliminated as the single cap is adapted to eliicient and proper mounting' and attachment on and to either size ot conduit.

A iuodilied 'torni ot the closure plate o l the invention and ot the conduit end receiving bosses thereon is disclosed in Fics. el and 5 ot' the drawing. 1n this Ytorni it is unnecessar '\Y to reverse the closure plate to adapt the saine to tle dilierent sizes or diameters ot conduit.

This result is accomplished hy eliminating the inner flange or shoulder 94e between the inner ends et bosses 22 and Ql and which ohstructs the inner end of the smaller boss here llO 23, and providing a flange or stop shoulder 33 around the outer end of the smaller internal diameter boss 23. By this construction and arrangement an internal shoulder or seat 22 is provided at the inner end of the large diameterl boss 22, but which shoulder 22 does not obstruct or extend over the inner end of the smaller diameter boss. Thus, by this arrangement the closure plate is mounted in the manner hereinbefore described with the larger diameter boss 22 positioned on the outer or exterior side of the closure plate in its mounted and assembled position on and in the cap body 10, and it is then possible to thread thereinto either a conduit end of the larger diameter or a conduit end of the smaller diameter; in the latter case the conduit end extending through boss 22 to and threaded into the boss 23 until the conduit end engages the outer end flange or shoulder 33 of this boss, and in the former case the conduit end threaded into boss 22 until the conduit end engages the stop shoulder 22 at the inner end of boss 22.

In another modification of the construci tion and arrangement of the closure plate 2O and its sciuring n'ieans, shown by F 5 and 6 of the drawings, the pin 28 is eliminated along with the end recesses 29, and in place thereof opposite side recesses 29 are formed on the closure plate at an intermediate point, and the opposite side walls of the cap body l0 are provided with the threaded bores 17 which receive suitable screws 32 to extend over the closure plate and be received into the opposite side recesses in order to fasten and secure the plate in its assembled position.

lVith this arrangement, however, it is also possible, if desired or found expedient, to retain the closure plate end pin 28, although such pin .is not generally found necessary in order to obtain the desired securing of the closure plate in and to the cap body l0.

The foregoing designs, arrangements, and constructions of electrical conduit caps thus eliminate the necessity for stocking and carrying a plurality of caps adapted to [it the different standard or stock sizes of electrical conduits in general use, and provide such a. cap adapted to be attached to and used with and on the different conduit sizes or diameters. The construction of the caps is of extreme mechanical simplicity, while retaining therefor the necessary electrical and protection eiiiciency in. use, and the design and arrangement of the closure plate and cooperating cap body enables easy and quick assembly or disassembly, and facility in attaching or removing the same to and from a conduit.

Attention is here directed to the fact that the invention contemplates and includes, the formation of the cover plate conduit receiving and attaching bosses to receive more than two different sizes of conduits, by the mere ment for a cover plate, all as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the accompanying drawings and the above explanation and description thereof.

It is also evident that various other changes, modifications, variations and substitutions might be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and hence I do not wish to restrict or limit myself to the exact and specific disclosures hereof.

Desiring to p retect my invention in the broadest manner legally possible, what I claim, is

l. A conduit cap comprising, a cap body, and a removable and reversible plate member mount-ed at one side of said body and provided with conduit end receiving members on opposite sides thereof, respectively, said plate member reversible to present either si de thereof outwardly with its conduit end receiving` member in operative position on the cap body.

2. A conduit cap comprising, an open side cap body, and a closure member removably secured in the open side of the body, said closure member constructed and arranged at opposite sides thereof to receive and be attached to conduits of different diameters, and the said closure reversible to present either side thereof for attachment to a conduit.

3. A conduit cap comprising, an open side cap body, and a closure plate removably secured across the open side of the cap body, said closure plate formed with socket members on opposite sides thereof for receiving and attaching the cap body and plate to con# duits of different diameters` respectively, the said plate reversible to operatively present the sockets at either side thereof.

4. A conduit cap comprising an open side cap body, a. plate member reniovably and rcversibly secured in the body open side, and said plate member formed on opposite sides thereof with different diameter conduit receiving and attaching sockets,` the plate member reversible to operatively present the socket at either side thereof.

5. A conduit cap comprising an open side cap body, a closure plate rei'novably and reversibly secured at the open side of the body, and a, conduit receiving socket forming boss formed on each side of said plate. said bosses providing sockets of different diameters to receive and be attached to different size conduits, respectively, the said plate reversible to operatively present the socket forming boss at either side thereof.

6. In a conduit cap, a member formed on opposite sides for receiving and attachment to conduits of different diameters, respective g im ly, tlie .Caid nienilier rererrsibljf mounted to operatively present eil` ner 4eide tl'iereol.

e";idnit cap eoninieieng, an open side ai; trof... a elfimire plate removably freenrel n tlie open side ot tlie bodT and ogposite A@ide axial? alined li: on Raid plate forniu in;Y Sockets o'II dillerent diameters` resiieetirey, t'or reeeiring and attaelnnent to di [ferent size conduits, the said plate reversible to operativelyv present eitli r eide thereof.

8. conduit cap eon'iprifinpg, a Cai) body hanne' one Side tliereot open.y a plate ineintver reiner; lil;Y and rerersiblfr titted in the open Iside of said liedje, said plate ineinlier having" eoelet 'termine' liefL .es extending from oppoeite sides tliereot' in substantial aTiial alinenient tor receiving and attaelinient to eondnit ende oi" ditterent diameters. respectively` and Conduit end reeeiving; flange at the inner endl-f` of and between tlie Socket;A formed by said liosee. tlie Said plate ineinlier reversible to operativel)Y preeent either eide tliereot.

t). ,ln a conduit can Ltor attaelnnent to aeondnit. a niemlier :Formed with a eondnit a id receiving` Socket tliereon haring tlie outer portion of its4 length of greater diameter than the reniaiming` portion ot its length, an internal slionlder at the inner end i1" the outer portion ot` gjrea est diameter, and a shoulder at tlie inner end of' the inner portion ot leeg diameterr` Said eoeliet` adapted to reeeix"r eendint ends ot dilierent diameters. resoeeti rel l0, in a Conduit ego` a nienilier' for attachinent to a. Conduit. Said member formed with eoinninnieating;v and axially alined conduit receiving' sockets ot different diameters. the di ainetei-S of Sain Soeliets, respeetiveljf, deereas'- ing inv-.'ardljv from tlie outermost soeliet. and u Conduit end engaging shoulder at tlie inner end oft eael. socket. \\'liereli}.' Said inenilier :an receive and lie attaelied to conduits` oit di il'erent diameters eorrenfonding4 to tlie diametei'e ot said soeltger` reSpeetiYely/f.

ll. ln a conduit e; p, a plate ineinlier for attaelnnent to a conduit. sulistantialljfY alined bosses; exten` ig it 'oni oppoeite Sides ot said nienil er, Said boeses ttoriiied with axially alined bore@l lonfjitndinalhY thereof ot ditlerent diameters to provide Soekets Ylor reeeivine; and attachment to conduits of Corresponding diameters. respeetively.

Signed at Park Ridge New Jersey, thinl ttli day ot' Deeenilier. 1928.

JACOB B. COOPER* 

